Indian-origin doctor suspended in UK for forcing woman into forceps delivery
PTC News Desk: An Indian-origin consultant gynaecologist in the UK has been suspended after she was found guilty of professional misconduct. She is accused to pressurising a first-time mother into agreeing to the use of forceps during childbirth in the UK's Eaglestone.
The patient claimed that she wanted to deliver the baby through C-section. However the doctor insisted upon using forceps method, leaving her traumatised. She also claimed that the method inflicted damage to baby's head and face.
Dr Premila Thampi, 62, from Mitcham, South London, during the encounter asserted that since she was the senior, she could have left the delivery to a junior doctor instead of staying beyond her shift.
At the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) in Manchester, Dr Thampi was found guilty of serious professional misconduct and was ordered to be suspended from practice for three weeks, as reported by The Daily Mail.
The woman, who was 41 weeks pregnant suffers from a neuromuscular condition said that Dr Thampi came to check on her after she was admitted and suggested the use of forceps, which she said she clearly refused, The Daily Mail reported.
"She just marched into the room to ask me if I was ready for an instrumental delivery and then marched back out again. Dr Thampi didn't explain what an instrumental delivery would involve, or what the instruments to be used were. I knew about the use of suction and a ventouse, and I verbalised to Dr Thampi that I was against the use of forceps," the woman was quoted as saying by the Tabloid.
"I was told that I did not want the forceps to be used, and I haven't pushed yet. Miss Thampi then said something I will never forget for the rest of my days, "What you need to understand and appreciate is that I am a consultant, and it is after six o'clock and I could have gone home and left one of my Registrar's to deliver this baby," the woman alleged.
Meanwhile, the doctor in her defencesaid that the patient did not to undergo forceps delivery which in contrast with her clinical judgment too late to safely switch to Caesarean section.
- With inputs from agencies
